John Victor Ellis qualified MD from Cornell University in 1943 and continued his studies at University College, London, where he qualified MB BS in 1945. He was resident surgeon in neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville, and then became resident surgical officer to Worthing Hospital and the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. He returned to the United States and practised neurosurgery in Amarillo, Texas. He died on 5 August 1980.